Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do primary-residence-only rule rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington has fewer restrictions than Fort Worth.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Arlington does not restrict short-term rentals to a hosts primary residence. Investors may operate non-owner-occupied STRs citywide, and Texas HB 1620 reinforces this permissive stance by limiting municipal authority to impose primary-residence requirements on whole-home rentals.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth's 2023 short-term rental ordinance restricts STRs to multifamily and mixed-use zoning districts, effectively pushing whole-home rentals toward owner-occupied primary residences. Single-family STRs face zoning limits as the city tightens enforcement against unregistered operators.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Primary-residence rule | None | - |
| Investor STRs allowed | Yes | - |
| State preemption | TX HB 1620 (2025) | - |
| Permit still required | Yes | - |
| Ordinance | - | Fort Worth STR Ord. (2023) |
| Zoning rule | - | Multifamily and mixed-use only |
| Single-family STR | - | Restricted under ordinance |
| Registration | - | Required citywide |
| Tax remittance | - | State and city HOT |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can I buy a second home in Arlington just for STR use?
Yes. Arlington allows non-owner-occupied investor STRs, and HB 1620 prevents the city from later adopting a primary-residence-only rule for whole-home rentals.
Are investor STRs taxed differently?
No. All STRs pay the standard 9 percent city plus 6 percent state hotel occupancy tax regardless of whether they are owner-occupied.
Fort Worth FAQ
Can I run a single-family-home STR in Fort Worth?
Generally no for new operators. The 2023 ordinance restricts STRs in single-family residential zones and limits them to multifamily and mixed-use districts. Limited grandfathering may apply to long-running registered operators; check with Development Services.
Is a primary-residence requirement strictly enforced?
Fort Worth uses zoning rather than a literal primary-residence rule, but the effect functionally favors owner-occupied homes. Operators must register, post the registration number on listings, and remit hotel occupancy taxes regardless of zone.
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